TO: County Emergency Management Directors s1

STATE OF WISCONSIN \ DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS WISCONSIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

2400 WRIGHT STREET P.O. BOX 7865 MADISON, WISCONSIN 53707-7865

Information & Guidance Memo 03-03-04

DATE: March 22, 2004

TO: County Emergency Management Directors County Sheriffs State Patrol PCO Supervisors

FROM: Edward J. Gleason Administrator

SUBJECT: 2004 TORNADO & SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK DRILL INFORMATION AND WARNING PROCEDURES

Governor Doyle has proclaimed April 19-23, 2004 as Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin. The statewide tornado drill is scheduled for Thursday, April 22, 2004. This drill is a great opportunity for you and your communities to review and discuss your emergency operations plans and warning policies.

The state drill has been modified from past years. The “test” tornado watch will be issued at 1:00 p.m. The “test” tornado warnings for each county will be issued at different intervals determined by the National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office serving each area. The times for each county warning are listed on the attached chart. The test will then conclude at 2:00 p.m.

The reason for the change to staggered warning times is twofold. First, it is more realistic for warnings to be given for fewer counties at one time. A tornado warning for all 72 counties in Wisconsin at once is very unlikely. Secondly, the simultaneous issue of 72 warnings was overloading the backup hard copy notification to the county and municipal governments. This staggered method is expected to alleviate the problem. After this year’s drill, this new method will be reviewed and evaluated for future consideration.

If severe weather should be present in the state on the day of the drill, the test watch and warning will be postponed until Friday, April 23 with the same time schedule. If severe weather is forecast for Friday, the drill will be canceled.

On the morning of the drill, if severe weather is forecast for any portion of the state, the National Weather Service will notify Wisconsin Emergency Management and a decision will be made as to whether the drill will be run or postponed. Notification of a postponement will be by a statewide NAWAS announcement and all county emergency management directors will be e-mailed. March 22, 2004 Page 2

The test tornado messages will be transmitted through the Wisconsin portion of the National Warning System (NAWAS), with relay to non-NAWAS counties from either State Patrol Districts or neighboring warning centers. Attached is a NAWAS coverage map. The NAWAS is the primary communication tool in issuing urgent severe weather messages in Wisconsin. Counties with direct NAWAS drops should make certain their terminals are functioning properly.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio network will also be activated for these drills. Attached is a NOAA Weather Radio Network Map showing the layout of the NOAA weather radio transmitters and the approximate coverage area in Wisconsin.

It will be up to local television and radio stations if they will participate in the drill and activate the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Broadcasters and cable providers are only required to carry national EAS messages. Local EAS messages, such as severe weather, are at the discretion of the broadcasters and cable providers. Many broadcasters take their severe weather messages directly from the NOAA weather radio network.

Wisconsin Emergency Management will also have information about Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week available on the internet at:

http://emergencymanagement.wi.gov

We urge you to use this year’s tornado drill to review your plans, procedures and equipment for the upcoming severe weather season. If you have any questions regarding Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week, please contact your Regional Emergency Management Director.

ATTACHMENTS: Tornado Awareness Week 2004 Drill Schedule NWS Contact Information Wisconsin NAWAS Network Wisconsin NOAA Weather Radio Network 2002

DISTRIBUTION: Maj Gen Wilkening, TAG Governor’s Legal Counsel Randy Thiel, Department of Public Instruction Barb Fonkert, Minnesota Division of Emergency Management National Weather Service District Offices John Gifford, DOT – State Patrol HFSOB Walt Neverman, DOJ TIME Network Chris Kalina, DOJ TIME Network Phil Hanson, Badger Chapter, American Red Cross Wisconsin Emergency Management Staff

* Previous Information and Guidance Memo: 03-02-04, 2004 Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week Coordination with Schools